Living cost for international students in the United Kingdom
For thousands of students that immigrate to England for their higher education, undergraduate tuition fees total to around £8,000-£30,000 per year for full-time courses. However, it is noteworthy that international students only pay £12,000 on average for the same courses.
For postgraduate degrees in the United Kingdom, the average tuition fees for international students taking full-time courses is somewhere around £10,000-£13,000 per year. For programs that incorporate the usage of laboratories, and research-centric programs, the average annual fee amounts to £14,000 per year. For medical degrees, the average figure is £21,000.
As far as the living costs for the international students are concerned, they are highly variable as they are dependent on the lifestyle, budget, and spending habits of the student. Here is a table that will help you figure out the average cost for your stay in the United Kingdom.
| Particulars | Monthly Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent | £450 |
| Food | £200 |
| Gas and electricity | £60 |
| Internet | £40 |
| Mobile Phone | £30 |
| Laundry | £25 |
| Stationery | £40 |
| Clotding | £75 |
| Bus fares | £45 |
| Entertainment options | £50 |
| Total | £1,015 |
What is the average amount that I have to spend per month for studying in London?
UK Visa and Immigration recommends that you have a budget of around £1,020 per month to study a full-time education course in London. This amount is inclusive of the tuition fee that you have to pay at your institution. This is also the minimum amount that you must have the ability to spend if you want to study in the UK, according to the Department of Immigration.
However, if you study outside of London, an average expenditure of £820 per month is calculated. The average accommodation rates in the UK are £150 per week, which amounts to £600 per month. The UK Visa and Immigration department also predicts that you will need a minimum of £104 per week for living costs in the UK. This amount will adjust according to your spending habits and lifestyle choices when you live there.
Living Cost for international students in the United States of America
The average cost for living in the United States as an international student is $10,000 to $12,000 a year. This averages around $1,000 to $1,200 a month. This cost includes your accommodation, your food, travel, notebooks, weather-appropriate clothing, and entertainment expenses.
Here is an estimated range of costs that you have to consider if you’re looking to study in the United States:
| Particulars | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | $200 |
| Electricity | $20 |
| Groceries | $150 |
| International Calling Cards | $15 |
| Home Internet | $15 |
| Cell Phone | $50 |
| Restaurant meals | $75 |
| Entertainment | $100 |
| Car Insurance | $100 |
| Gas | $75 |
| Weekend activities | $100 |
| Shopping | $100 |
Additional Costs
The estimated value above does not include the following additional costs. These expenditures have to be added after the above calculations have been made:
- Travel expenses from the US to your home country during the holidays
- Large purchases like furniture, a TV, or even a rental car
- Off-campus transportation costs
- Entertainment options
- Medical expenses uncovered under the insurance
- Lifestyle expenses
Living Cost for international students in Canada
Studying in Canada is an experience in itself. It is also considered an investment for your future as Canada offers you premium education, cross-cultural experiences, and a degree that is recognized and respected in all parts of the world.
However, you will have to bear both the tuition and living costs for yourself while studying in Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada require proof that you will be able to fund yourself throughout your stay in Canada. Your college will provide a tuition fee structure for you, and you will have to correspond to it appropriately.
Apart from your tuition and living costs, you also have to pay for mandatory health insurance. Healthcare in Canada is pretty expensive. Public healthcare is also administered differently in each province of the country. Hence, not only do you have to prepare a lot of money before considering moving to Canada for your studies, but you also have to do a lot of research on your own.
Living Costs
Like in any other country, your college’s location will determine the living costs you have to bear. Naturally, colleges that are located in urban areas or big cities will have a greater living cost than colleges that are located in rural or suburban areas. Some of the most expensive cities to live in are Toronto and Vancouver.
However, the estimation of your living costs can be accurately done only when you decide your college. It is also majorly impacted by the university you get into. Some colleges also offer affordable on-campus stays for their students, while others charge a lot of money for the same.
Look at the list below to gain better insights on the living costs for studying in Canada as an international student.
| Particulars | Annual expenses |
|---|---|
| Tuition | £8,000 |
| Student fee | £400 |
| Health Insurance | £840 |
| Textbooks | £600 |
| On-campus rent | £7,200 |
| Mobile phone | £360 |
| Public-transit pass | £480 |
| Groceries | £3,600 |
| Entertainment | £960 |
| Car insurance | £1,500 |
| Fuel | £2,400 |
Living cost for foreign/international students in New Zealand
For studying in New Zealand as an international student and your tuition and insurance, you will need around $20,000 to $25,000 per year for your accommodation, food, transportation, phone bills, internet, and entertainment. No matter what your tuition or insurance is, the living costs for all international students will be the same on average.
New Zealand’s Immigration requires you to have access to at least $15,000 per year plus $2,000 for your return airfare. Following is a table that will help you better estimate the living costs for international students in New Zealand :
| Particulars | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent | $800-$950 |
| Groceries | $100-$150 |
| Gym | $300 |
| Entertainment | $50 |
| Milk | $3 |
| Coca Cola | $2 |
| Cup of coffee | $3-$5 |
| Lunch from the university | $7-$12 |
| Local calls from a cell phone | $0.5-$1.5 |
| Transportation | $12-$15 |
| Entertainment | $50-$100 |
There are several additional costs that we haven’t considered in the table and the estimate given above. These additional costs are dependent on the lifestyle of the student and his/her spending habits. These additional costs also include medical expenses that healthcare or medical insurance do not cover.
Living Cost for international students in Ireland
One of the most important things that you can consider when you’re looking to move to Ireland for your studies is the distance between your college or university and your accommodation. Public transport is expensive all around Europe, and factoring that into your budget will greatly modify it, either positively or negatively.
Renting or buying a car is also not viable due to the costs involved in its repair, maintenance, and insurance. Plus, you also have to factor in the cost of gasoline. Hence, as a solution to this problem, you must make sure that your commute from your accommodation to your university is short and within walking distance. You can also use a bicycle if that’s your thing.
Accommodation is another hefty addition to your budget. You need to find an affordable place to live in Ireland to get the monthly costs down. You could look at getting on-campus accommodation or look into getting a place with tenants or flatmates.
Another huge cost during your month will be your fooding. However, if you make an effort to home-cook your meals without going out every night and have lunch at the university, you could save a lot of money.
Here is a table that will help you get better insights into the costs that might be involved :
| Particulars | Cost |
|---|---|
| Meals | €15 |
| Milk | €1 |
| Coca Cola | €1.4 |
| Coffee | €2.7 |
| Lunch at the campus | €7.5 |
| Meal at a restaurant | €55 |
| One minute cell phone call | €0.26 |
| Taxi 1km | €1.25 |
| Gasoline 1 liter | €1.3 |
| Movie tickets | €10 |
| 1 room apartment in the middle in the city | €1029 |
| 1 room apartment in the suburbs | €863 |
Living Cost for international students in Australia
Australia has been a haven for international students for several decades now. With most of its colleges ranking amongst the top 100 of the world, Australia's universities have seen a definite rise in their international student numbers in recent years. However, Studying abroad is expensive. Australia, on the other hand, is a less costly option for students. The average tuition fees in Australia is less than the tuition fees in the USA. Moreover, living costs are even lesser.
Australia ranks amongst the Top 10 countries in the Human Development Index and the Quality of Life index. In simple words, Australia is a developed nation that can offer a good quality of lifestyle for its students. However, that lifestyle comes at a cost.
The following is a table that will help you better understand the living costs of studying in Australia from an international student's perspective.
| Particulars | Average Monthly Expenses (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Rentals | 750 |
| Transportation | 100 |
| Basic amenities | 250 |
| Entertainment | 200 |
| Total | 1300 |
Australia ranks amongst the Top 10 countries in the Human Development Index and the Quality of Life index. In simple words, Australia is a developed nation that can offer a good quality of lifestyle for its students. However, that lifestyle comes at a cost.
These figures, however, talk about the average cost of an average student studying in Australia. These are the estimated numbers that are generalized for everybody. There are several costs that are dependent on the student. For instance :
- Entertainment
- Textbooks and notebooks
- Type of accommodation chosen
- Preferred modes of transportation
- Food
- Groceries
